Massive investment as Auckland gears up for major events

Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, is gearing up to host a series of major events - including the America's Cup yachting regatta - in 2020 and 2021.

A number of large-scale conferences have already been secured to be held in the new New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) when it opens in 2019 or 2020.

The following year all eyes will be on Auckland, and New Zealand, with the America's Cup defence and a number of events associated with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) including the penultimate Leaders' Week in November, 2021.

Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED) general manager Steve Armitage says Auckland is no stranger to hosting world-class major events, and maximising the opportunities they present to create a lasting legacy.

“We know how hosting major events can be catalysts for change and how to leverage the power of them to transform a city," he says. "This does not just extend to the public and social amenities of a city but we've also seen the same impact for the business events sector.

“A significant transformation of Auckland is already underway and a lot of development is in the pipeline including the infrastructure which will be needed to support the growth of the business events sector and the America's Cup regatta.”

Between now and 2023 more than $23 billion of new strategic investment across the region is planned, funded and underway.

This includes the world class NZICC on track for completion in 2019, a number of new hotel developments such as the new SkyCity Hotel, Sofitel SO, Four Points by Sheraton, Park Hyatt, and the recently announced expansion of Cordis, which once completed will have the largest number of rooms in New Zealand.

NZICC general manager operations, Callum Mallett, says: “We are seeing a growing appetite globally for bringing events to New Zealand.

“Auckland's increasing infrastructure, more frequent flight paths, and now the 4,000 pax capacity of NZICC means that the perceived barriers for the larger scale business events coming to New Zealand are now gone. Our teams are in market and winning some really exciting business.”

There is also a number of other significant transport, commercial and urban projects which will compliment or support Auckland's business events offering, that are underway.